El Paso County Man Ordered Detained for Production of Child Pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office
September 24, 2013

District of Colorado(303) 454-0100

DENVER—Kenneth Wayne Hugo, age 37, of El Paso County, Colorado, was ordered held without bond yesterday by a U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty after being charged with the sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney John Walsh and Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle announced. Hugo was transferred from state to federal custody last week. He was remanded into custody of the U.S. Marshals at the conclusion of the detention hearing.

On January 23, 2013, the FBI and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Hugo’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, agents and deputies found over 8,000 images of child pornography on Hugo’s computer and media. During the course of the investigation, agents and officers also found images of child pornography that Hugo himself created, including taking pictures of himself while fondling girls under the age of 12 years old. On that date, Hugo was arrested and charged in state court for the molestation. He was held in state custody ever since until after his August 6, 2013 indictment by a federal grand jury. The indictment alleged that Hugo documented the molestation.

Count one of the indictment charges Hugo with the sexual exploitation of children. If convicted of that count, he faces not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison, as well as a fine of not more than $250,000. Counts two and three of the indictment charge Hugo with distribution of child pornography. If convicted on those counts the defendant faces not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison, as well as a fine of not more than $250,000 per count. Count four of the indictment charges Hugo with possession of child pornography. If convicted of that count the defendant faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, as well as a fine of not more than $250,000.

“Those who produce child pornography, victimizing children for others’ enjoyment, belong in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “By producing child pornography images, the children the defendant allegedly victimized will be harmed for the rest of their life.”

“Combating the exploitation and victimization of children is one of the FBI’s top priorities,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle. “With the arrest of Kenneth Hugo, the FBI, working in conjunction with state and local authorities, has removed another child predator from our community and curtailed the abusive actions of an individual actively preying on children.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Spencer.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "Resources."